How the Rick Nash trade impacts the Springfield Falcons

AP fileRick Nash is headed from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the New York Rangers, but who is headed to the Springfield Falcons?

The obvious question with the trade of Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the New York Rangers is what, if any, impact the deal may have on the Springfield Falcons' line-up. Any time a multi-player deal adds depth to an organization, it normally has a positive impact on the minor-league affiliate. In this case, the Blue Jackets picked up two forwards in exchange for Nash, which could mean that a player who was on the bubble to make Columbus could start in Springfield. Columbus also gave up big defenseman Steven Delisle, who has struggled with injuries, but organizationally we are deep at defense. The big question now: Will there be a National Hockey League work stoppage and how would that affect which players show up in the American Hockey League?

I need to switch gears for a moment to talk about season tickets and season ticket packages. The other day an article appeared in the Times-Union newspaper in Albany about a season ticket campaign that was under way to keep the Devils from moving. At the same time, Glens Falls, a short distance to the north of Albany, is launching its own drive to lure a new team to its building when the Brooks Brothers, owners of the current franchise, the Adirondack Phantoms, relocate the team to Allentown, Pa. Albany is concerned about losing the Devils to Glens Falls if it can't build the season ticket base. The campaign in Glens Falls is being spearheaded by city officials, while the campaign in Albany is being run by the building owners, who are matching season tickets with any new purchase made by a company in the Albany area.

I applaud both communities for doing whatever they can to assure that they don't lose their franchises. Springfield has the lowest number of full-season tickets in the AHL, which has been documented in this blog in the past. Although full-season tickets are not as popular any longer due to lifestyles and budgets, a team must have a reasonable base to build on. It is a number we have been trying to increase for a long time. Based on league reports, we do OK in the area of partial plans and flex plans, but are way behind most of the league in full-season tickets. Despite our efforts we have not been successful in getting businesses or companies to purchase a full-season tickets, even though our prices are the lowest in the League.

What more can we do? We have added sales staff. We have tried to emulate what some of the other more successful franchises are doing in how we approach our season ticket sales. Recently we started a referral program with our Booster Club. I have had conversations with the Chamber of Commerce. We have meetings coming up with what I call "stakeholders" in our franchise - the building management, the Parking Authority, the mayor's office, etc. We need to continue to work as hard as we can to build our season ticket base and get more of the local business community to realize the impact of this franchise in the heart of downtown Springfield goes far deeper than just wins and losses and the game on the ice.

There has been a major commitment made by majority owner Charlie Pompea to do everything possible to assure the long-term viability of this franchise. The difference in making it work is not the 2,000 season tickets that both Glens Falls and Albany are looking to secure. As I have said many times, if we had even 500 more full-season tickets, this franchise would be on solid ground for a very long time.

I have ended every blog for the past several months by saying that every ticket counts. Even if it is the purchase of a 12 flex pack or a 7-game partial plan, it all goes toward building the fan base, which is our ultimate goal.

Thanks for your support.

Bruce Landon is president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons. He can be reached by commenting on this blog or sending him an e-mail at blandon@falconsahl.com. For more information visit the team website.